Timeout Radio: Recent Episodes
Rohan
The award-winning youth radio show and podcast, Timeout Radio, covers a range of topics of interest to teens. Broadcasting from Davis, California, the show has a mix of in-depth reporting, interviews, music, and a place of the week. Inquisitive teens interested in sports, travel, and learning about the world will enjoy getting to know host Rohan and his fascinating line-up of insightful guests.
Timeout Radio was one of only 10 initiatives nationally to win a 2020 Youth Summit Pitch Contest grant from the Points of Light Foundation. The Summit virtually brought together teens from across the U.S. to reflect on and engage with challenges and opportunities presented by the new school year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All past episodes are archived forever below. Find Timeout Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Hear what makes a great coach in youth athletics and what aspiring coaches can do to help their young players develop to their full potential. Eric Moody and Philip Toy, coaches of my AYSO United Soccer team tell me about their coaching philosophy, what they enjoy most about coaching, and what to keep in mind when coaching young athletes. Then visit England, the birthplace of Association Football and the World Wide Web, and home to cliffs made of chalk and cheese chasing competitions.
Hear unforgettable and bizarre soccer stories that will make you shake your head in disbelief. From Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal, to a defender who scored all 4 goals in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw, to a goalkeeper who diligently guarded his post even when the game was called off due to dense fog. Sports writer Evan Ream tells us about his book about the story of Sacramento Republic FC and his journey to writing soccer stories, starting from when he fell in love with soccer as a 14-year-old. Then visit Mexico City — home to an intense soccer culture, flying wrestlers, monumental murals, floating gardens, and a sinking cathedral.
Lyrics about driving your truck on a dirt road in your blue jeans and cowboy hat, with your dog by your side. Are these stereotypes of country music true? Hear how this musical genre began and evolved over two centuries influenced by immigrant groups and spread all over the world through radio and television. Glenda and Jesse Drew discuss their recently released film, Open Country, a documentary about the history and politics of country music. Then visit Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry—the world’s longest-running live music radio show.
UC Davis basketball broadcaster Scott Marsh returns to the show to recap this past UC Davis basketball season which saw the Aggies fall short of a March Madness berth in the Big West Tournament against Long Beach State. We recap the ups and downs of a memorable season, and also discuss the career of Elijah Pepper, who leaves the program as one of the best to ever put on an Aggie uniform. We look ahead to the future of the Aggies, and what fans should expect for next season.
Last year, more than three years after COVID-19 was designated as a pandemic, the World Health Organization declared an end to the global public health emergency. In the aftermath of the pandemic what is the new normal for teens and how can schools and youth athletics prepare for future pandemics? Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dean Blumberg shares what the pandemic taught us about how to support teens during future public health emergencies. Then visit Geneva, home to the World Health Organization, the birthplace of the World Wide Web, and a gigantic jet of water that you can see from the sky.
On July 4th each year, packs of super-fast bicycles speed through downtown streets in the Davis Criterium. Hear how road racing got its start in 1868 in Paris to become a global sport that draws millions of spectators around the world. Heidi Verbeeck and Ray Spore, race team directors for the Davis Bike Club, tell us how their community of riders trains to stay physically and mentally fit. Then visit South Africa — home to the largest individually timed cycle race in the world, three capital cities, white rhinos, and blue wildebeest — and hear the story of its emergence from decades of racial segregation.
The sport known as soccer in the United States is called football in England. But the word soccer is actually British in origin. British historian and UC Berkeley history professor James Vernon tells us how the game was shaped by colonialism and capitalism to became the most popular sport in the world, the reason for its delayed entry into the United States, and why soccer fan culture can get so intense. Then explore the country of Uruguay — home to the first FIFA World Cup, the world's longest national anthem, a seriously loaded Chivito sandwich, and a day of the month dedicated to eating Gnocchi.
Birding is the hobby of observing birds in their natural habitats. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in the popularity of birding and with it grew a booming birding ecotourism industry. This interest in avian adventures could raise more awareness about biodiversity conservation and help preserve endangered species and bird habitats. Zane Pickus and Bart Wickel from Yolo Audubon Society tell us about how beginners can get into birding and how to learn more about our feathered friends. Then travel to Ecuador, the closest country to space in the world, home to 1,600 species of birds, and a city where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
The enthusiastic and prolonged goal call that goes on for a few seconds whenever a player scores is a fun part of watching soccer, especially if you’re watching Spanish or Portuguese-language commentators. Find out how play-by-play broadcasters develop their unique styles, build gripping storylines, and hold their audience's interest. Will Wyman, play-by-play announcer for UC Davis soccer on ESPN+ tells us about his path to sports broadcasting. Then visit Portugal—the oldest country in the world, and home to 500 miles of surfing coastline, piri piri sauce, and the first explorer to circle the earth.
Walking in quiet urban settings with shade and greenery improves mood and reduces stress. Hear about the seven principles of Leave No Trace and how we can protect our urban nature preserves. Felicia Wang, restoration biologist at the 130-acre Cache Creek Nature Preserve, tells us how it was restored from a gravel mine, why native plants and cultural burns help our local ecology, and how you can sign up for their internships and public education programs. Then travel to Arizona, the Grand Canyon State — home to the largest urban preserve in the country, sky islands, towering 100-year-old saguaro cacti, and a remote area where mules still deliver mail.
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was a grassroots movement that got its start in California 60 years ago. Hear how it helped overcome lack of awareness and even prejudice about soccer in the United States, how it grew from 125 players into one of the largest youth soccer organizations in the country, and why orange slices were first passed out to players. Sam Conselman, longtime soccer player and Davis AYSO's registrar tells us how the organization gives kids a chance to experience the beautiful game of soccer. Then visit Torrance, the birthplace of AYSO, home to the 2nd largest Japanese population in the country, and check out its Pacific shoreline and 43-acre Madrona Marsh.
UC Davis football color analyst Scott Gordon returns to the show to recap a rollercoaster 2023 season which saw the Aggies finish with a 7-4 record (5-3 in the Big Sky Conference), but not good enough for an FCS Playoff bid. We discuss the controversy of the Ags not being selected in the 24-team playoff field by the FCS committee over certain teams for the second year in a row. We also look ahead to next season, with key offensive players Lan Larison and Miles Hastings leading the charge, and how the Aggies can start off faster in 2024.
Athletic events across the United States generate more than 40 million pounds of trash each year. Hear about my internship last season with FC Davis where I worked on ways to get the football club to Zero Waste home games. Jennifer Gilbert, Conservation Coordinator for the City of Davis, tells us about how event planners and each of us can do a better job at reducing what goes into the landfill at events. Then visit Germany which has one of the highest recycling rates in the world, highways with no speed limit, and the highest fan attendance in the world at its professional league soccer games.
Football Club Davis is a semi-professional soccer team founded in 2017 and based in Davis, California. FC Davis owner Adam Lewin returns to the show to recap an eventful 2023 season. We talk about the adversity that both the men's and women's teams faced this season and how the program will continue to grow for years to come. We also look ahead to next season, which sees the Lions joining the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) for the fall 2024 season.
I just returned from the 72nd annual California Scholastic Press Association workshop. This is a 2-week hands-on summer program for high school journalists taught by media professionals. We completed dozens of assignments that ranged from sports writing to a simulation of breaking news where we sprinted across campus close to midnight to interview sources! I learned from professional journalists who work in print, digital, TV, and audio media. One of the journalists I met there was Cam Inman who tells us about his journey to covering the San Francisco 49ers for the San Jose Mercury News, his advice to aspiring sports broadcasters, and what 49ers fans can expect this upcoming season.
Did you know that switching from a gasoline-powered car to an electric car can reduce your carbon footprint by half? There are over 10 million electric cars around the world and their numbers are increasing each year. Hear about the 200-year history of the electric car and what led to the decline and then the rise of electric vehicles. Alan Jenn shares how our society can move toward a future that has only plug-in electric vehicles. Then visit Norway, where you will find the highest number of electric cars per capita, fjords, wolverines, the Realm of The Polar Bears, the Midnight Sun, and the Polar Night.
Explore how a 5,300-acre University came to exist in the little farm town that was Davisville, California. Davis was designated as a University of California campus in 1959 and is now the largest campus in the University of California system. Find out how its mascot Gunrock got his name and why the campus has red London double deck buses. UC Davis chancellor Gary May tells us about his path to engineering, his humongous comic book collection, and his favorite Star Trek character. Then visit London where Big Ben's clock is still adjusted with an old penny and half the London Underground is actually above the ground.
There are millions of e-bikes on our roads. These are bicycles with an electric motor that you can activate to help with pedaling. Susan Handy tells us about environmental policy challenges that the road to sustainable transportation faces, how e-bikes influence travel, and how city planners can get people to drive less and use more e-bikes. Then visit Amsterdam, a city built on clay and supported by 11 million wooden poles. This Dutch city is home to 1.2 million bikes, 320 miles of bicycle lanes, 165 canals, a cat shelter on a houseboat, and stroopwafels.
Are you a basketball player and want to figure out the arc length of your shot? Are you a competitive runner who wants to determine how fast you can finish a race while conserving your energy? Do you want to make your baseball throw more efficient? Calculus is everywhere in sports and coaches and athletes can use it to gain an edge over their competition. Mathematician Dan Tancredi tells us how calculus helps us understand the world. Then visit Manhattan, one of the most densely populated places on Earth. It packs the National Museum of Mathematics, Broadway, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, the United Nations headquarters, and 150 subway stations into an area half the size of Disney World.
Two years after his last appearance on Timeout radio, the G-Man returns to discuss the Sacramento Kings' 2022-23 season. Gary Gerould has been the radio play-by-play voice of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings for 38 years and is one of the NBA's longest tenured announcers. We discuss the key individuals who helped the Kings end the longest playoff drought in professional North American sports. We also talk about what offseason moves are necessary to solidify the Kings as championship contenders.
Fifty years ago in an apartment in the South Bronx a teen DJ threw a back-to-school birthday party where he dropped electrifying breakbeats and hip hop was born. Since then, this grassroots musical revolution rapidly turned into a global social and cultural phenomenon. Hip hop scholar, Halifu Osumare, tells us about the roots and evolution of hip hop and its influence as a powerful genre that expresses the voice of youth. Then visit the South Bronx — home of the New York Yankees, an authentic Little Italy, the largest park in New York City, and the birthplace of hip hop.
If you pass by UC Davis’ Toomey Field on spring weekends you’ll see a team of athletes engrossed in practicing their sprints, jumps, and throws. They are the track and field members of Team Davis, the Special Olympics team for Yolo County. Hear how Special Olympics started as a backyard summer camp and grew into a global movement that changed attitudes about ability and inclusion. Robin Dewey tells us how Team Davis enriches the lives of children and adults with developmental, cognitive, and physical disabilities. Then visit Chicago, home to the first Special Olympics. With its towering skyscrapers, deep dish pizzas, and loaded hotdogs, find out why the Windy City is not actually the windiest city in the U.S.
Artificial Intelligence chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversation through voice or text. Learn about the relatively short history of chatbots — from Eliza who simulated a therapist, to Watson who won the first prize of a million dollars on the quiz show Jeopardy, to Tay the teen who quickly turned offensive on Twitter. Our first guest, Chat GPT, tells us how it got so smart and if it can do my homework. Andy Jones from UC Davis' Academic Technology Services then shares how chatbots are rapidly changing the world of education. Travel to New Hampshire where the term "Artificial Intelligence" was coined. Find out why it is nicknamed The Granite State and go on a 6,200 foot high super windy hike that ends with apple cider doughnuts.
If you’ve been listening to Timeout Radio for a while, you’ve probably picked up that we have a lot of episodes that focus on sports. Its time to look at what fuels athletes and because this show is for teens, we focus on nutrition for youth athletes. Sports nutrition expert Dr. Liz Applegate tells us about her top tips for teen athletes to reach peak performance, the scoop on protein shakes and energy drinks, and how chocolate can boost sports performance. Then visit Sweden, the first country in Europe to create national parks. Learn about Sweden's efforts to save the endangered Arctic fox and why dazzling northern lights fill the sky in the country's Arctic north.
I start my weekday mornings listening to “The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross" before I head out to school. This episode features sports broadcaster and UC Davis graduate, Jason Ross. Jason is the program director at Sactown Sports 1140 KHTK and has worked in sports broadcasting for close to three decades. He has been broadcasting Sacramento Kings basketball since 1994, and connects with his radio and television audiences in a way that is relatable, likable, informative, and honest. Jason and I discuss this Sacramento Kings season through the NBA All-Star Break.
Just two hours east of Davis in the Sierra Nevada mountains lies the largest alpine lake in North America. The transparent cobalt blue waters of Lake Tahoe are almost as pure as distilled water. However, over the past 50 years the lake has lost about one-third of its clarity. Meet Chris Joseph from Keep Tahoe Blue and learn about the many threats to the blueness of the lake and what we can do to keep it pristine and clear. Explore some of the clearest and bluest lakes around the world from New Zealand to Siberia. Then travel to Lake Tahoe to kayak in Emerald Bay, hike through Desolation Wilderness, meet a fish caled Tessie, and help preserve the natural wonder of this sparking azure Lake of the Sky.
In a world saturated with online music apps and podcasts, college radio’s free spirit and eclectic programming cuts through the noise. There are more than 600 college radio stations in the United States and they play a critical role in giving airtime to emerging musicians and local broadcasters. Patrick Figueroa, sports director at KDVS 90.3 FM at the University of California Davis shares how the campus radio station teaches students broadcast production skills and provides its audience with diverse, noncommercial, and freeform radio. We then travel to Argentina — home of one of the oldest university radio station in the world, the highest and lowest points in the Southern Hemisphere, soccer legends Messi and Maradona, and a national sport called duck.
Numbers are everywhere in sports, both on and off the field. Team managers look at player stats to scout athletes, coaches use analytics to figure out play calls, and many athletes track their performance to fine-tune their skills. Statistics is used in fantasy leagues and sports betting to predict the outcome of a game. Chris Harden shares how he combines his love of sports, statistics, and computer science in his job as a sports data scientist at ESPN. Then visit the state of Connecticut, home to the oldest newspaper in the country, the first American dictionary, Mark Twain, hot lobster rolls, and a pizza called apizza!
The FIFA World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world. The 2022 Men’s World Cup was held in Qatar and 32 countries competed, with Argentina emerging as the winner. We trace the history of the World Cup from its kick-off in 1930 in Uruguay to its 22nd tournament in Qatar and hear about Smart Balls, a folding stadium, a thrilling finale, and allegations of bribery and corruption. Sports writer Evan Ream shares his perspectives as he returns from a World Cup that was surrounded by controversy from the get-go. We then travel to Qatar, where its citizens are a minority, robot jockeys race camels, and the sea meets the desert.
Scott Gordon called UC Davis home football games on ESPN+ this season. I met him when I was shadowing sports broadcasters at the Aggie Stadium press box last month. Scott played Division I football at the University of Arizona and shares his journey to coaching and calling football. His broadcast experience spans the NFL, college football, indoor soccer, River Cats baseball, and high school games. We discuss UC Davis Football's 2022 season and reflect on running back Ulonzo Gilliam's extraordinary legacy after his final season as an Aggie.
Have you ever wonder how and why the humble turkey became the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners? And what’s the deal with the President pardoning turkeys? Biologist John McNerney, who is the City of Davis’ wildlife resource specialist, tells us about Davis' resident flock of wild turkeys and why turkeys are an important part of our ecosystem. Then visit the country of Turkey — which spans two continents, is home to the Blue Mosque and the birthplace of Santa Claus, and where the national sport is oil wrestling!
This year California had over 6000 wildfires that burned 300,000 acres across the state. Triggered by rising temperatures, drought, logging, and unattended campfires, these fires caused large-scale deforestation. In the second episode of a two-part series on reforestation, we hear about efforts to replenish California's urban and rural forests that have their roots right here in Davis. Erin Donley Marineau shares how Tree Davis enhances and expands our community's tree canopy. Jimi Scheid from the State of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection tells us about L.A. Moran Reforestation Center's 100-year journey in replenishing our state's forests.
This year California had over 6000 wildfires that burned 300,000 acres across the state. Triggered by rising temperatures, drought, logging, and unattended campfires, these fires caused large-scale deforestation. In the second episode of a two-part series on reforestation, we hear about efforts to replenish California's urban and rural forests that have their roots right here in Davis. Erin Donley Marineau shares how Tree Davis enhances and expands our community's tree canopy. Jimi Scheid from the State of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection tells us about L.A. Moran Reforestation Center's 100-year journey in replenishing our state's forests.
Sports talk radio involves discussion of sporting events, and frequently features enthusiastic debate and analysis by both hosts and callers. Listeners tend to build a routine and connect on an emotional level with radio talk show hosts. My morning routine during school days is to tune in to KHTK SacTownSports 1140 AM and listen to The Carmichael Dave Show as I eat my breakfast. There are over 700 FM/AM radio stations in the United States that just cover sports. Dave and I talk about how he got into sports broadcasting, his thoughts on the future of sports talk radio, and how this season is going to go for the Sacramento Kings.
Northern California has been dealing with wildfires that cause large-scale deforestation and wipe out native species and natural habitats. In the first episode of a two-part series on reforestation, we dig beneath the roots to uncover how Costa Rica became the first tropical country to entirely reverse deforestation. Maria Fernanda from Green Wolf shares how her organization helps conserve the country's ecosystem. Then visit Costa Rica, one of the world's happiest nations and one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Forests and national parks cover half the country and are home to half a million species, soaring cloudforests, and over a hundred volcanoes.
Braces are a rite of passage for many teenagers in the United States. Hear about the history of orthodontics, which goes back all the way to ancient Egypt and involves animal intestines, gold, and space shuttles! Then meet Dr. Benton Runquist who opens up about his 27-year career as a Davis orthodontist and his time as a radio DJ. Then travel to France — home to 1,500 varieties of cheese, residents who consume 25,000 tons of snails annually, supermarkets that divert 45,000 pounds of food each year to feed the hungry and reduce food waste, and the Tour De France cycling race that lasts 23 days and covers 2,068 miles.
Sports broadcaster Scott Marsh tells us about his journey to being the play-by-play voice for UC Davis football and basketball and his advice to aspiring broadcasters. Hear how Scott got his start at UC Davis’ student-run radio station KDVS, how he uses his business degrees from UC Davis in his job at SacTownSports 1140 AM KHTK, and the secret of his broadcasting versatility as GameNight host at Sacramento Kings basketball games and the co-host of Golf to Go Hour. Then we talk about Aggie football's upcoming 2022 season, starting with their kickoff game against Cal in Berkeley this weekend.
A play-by-play announcer provides a running commentary of a live sports broadcast. The best play-by-play announcers work to develop a voice, pace, and style that their audience recognizes as soon as they hear them. They have a deep understanding of their sport, are skilled entertainers, build interest in the play and the athletes, and create storylines that grip their listeners' interest. Down the causeway from Davis, the professional soccer team Sacramento Republic FC plays in the USL Championship. Their motto is Urbs Indomita (The Indomitable City) which is also the motto of the city of Sacramento. Meet Rob McAllister, Sacramento Republic FC's play-by-play announcer, and hear about his broadcasting career, the Republic's current season, and their magical U.S. Open Cup run.
There are more than 1.5 million species of insects on our planet. They pollinate fruits, flowers, and vegetables, and produce honey, beeswax, and silk. Insects are the only food source for many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Humans in many parts of the world eat insects, which are a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Some people reach for a can of bug spray or scream when they see insects scurrying about, but not our guest entomologist Lynn Kimsey, the director of the UC Davis Bohart Entomology Museum. Our place of the week is Madagascar, home to the hissing cockroach, upside down trees, bizarre karst limestone formations, amazing biodiversity, and rare and endengered species of lemurs.
Extreme weather events like lightning, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes are scary. But did you know that heat waves are the most lethal weather phenomenon in the United States? Find out why heat waves happen and how to stay safe during one. UC Davis climate expert Dr. Richard Grotjahn tells us about the consequences of heat waves and what climate models predict about the future of these extreme events. Then visit Death Valley, one of the hottest places in the world. It is also the driest and lowest place in North America, and is home to moving rocks, singing sand, fish that survive in the desert, and colorful displays of wildflowers.
Goalkeepers are a little bit crazy. If you’re not insane, why would you just stand there and let people run into you and shoot balls at your face, all because you want to keep an inflatable ball out of a net. I play the position of goalie in soccer and while I don’t think goalies are totally insane, they definitely face a crazy amount of pressure. Meet Wallis Lapsley, goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders, who tells us about his typical day on the training ground, what he likes about being a goalie, and how to make the jump from youth soccer to becoming a professional goalkeeper. Then travel to Seattle, where we view the city from the Space Needle, go kayaking, cross the world’s longest floating bridge, and find out why it rains cats and dogs (not from the sky).
With its fast-paced action and the extreme speed, stamina, and agility of its players, the sport of Ultimate definitely lives up to its name. Find out how Ultimate got its start, why "frisbee" was dropped from its official name, and when it could become an Olympic sport. Did you know that early games were played with pie-tins, most leagues have no referees, players call their own fouls, and use rock-paper-scissors to figure out which team starts the game? Keenan McKelvey and Luke Adel from UC Davis’ Ultimate Team tell us about why they got into the sport and how players can up their game. Then visit Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the 2022 USA Ultimate College Championships were just held. There we check out a lake under an office building, an immense dinosaur skull, the world’s largest outdoor music festival, and the oldest soccer team in the United States.
Composting involves recycling organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants. Find out about the journey that your apple peels and eggshells take once you put your food waste into your city's organics waste removal cart and set the cart out on your curb. Jennifer Gilbert gives us the dirt on composting and tells us about her job as the Conservation Coordinator for the City of Davis. Then take a wee trip to the country of Scotland whose official animal is the unicorn (yes, really), and hear about moors, lochs, tartans, Highland Games, and the Loch Ness Monster.
The distinctive character of jazz is rooted in the unique history and culture of New Orleans, Lousiana. When Preservation Hall in New Orleans was first established 60 years ago, it was one of the few spaces in the segregated South where racially-integrated bands and audiences shared music together. Grammy-nominated trumpet player Branden Lewis shares his journey from playing in his elementary school concert band to being a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, his advice to aspiring musicians, and how he and his fellow musicians got through tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida. Then visit the city of New Orleans — the birthplace of jazz — and home to Creole and Cajun culture and cuisine, Mardi Gras, and second line parades.
War teaches us many lessons about human nature, international policy, power, and resilience. People around the world have been following the news about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and trying to grapple with its causes, consequences, and casualties. History teacher, Scott Bell, tells us about Da Vinci High School's World War I Museum Night and how lessons from past wars and conflicts are relevant today. Hear how a difference over foreign policy and an attempt to gain power and territory triggered a historical conflict in 1914 that forever changed the world. Find out about trench warfare, a 12-year-old soldier, and why the United States joined WW1. Then visit British Columbia, Canada – home to rugged sea coasts, hundreds of islands, rich natural resources–and the world’s largest hockey stick.
Farmers markets are places where local produce and foods are sold directly by farmers to consumers. Some are small with just a few stands and others span many city blocks. Hear how farmers markets started more than 5000 years ago, why their numbers grew in the mid-2000s, and how they benefit our food system. Meet Randii MacNear, Manager of the Davis Farmers Market who tells us about the origins of the Davis Farmers Market, how she decides which vendors are selected, and how the market navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Then visit Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home to the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ market in the United States. Find out why Lancaster was the capital of the U.S. for just one day, and how the area became the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish community.
About 40 million children and teens in the United States participate in organized sports each year. And together they experience four million injuries annually. A third of all injuries that happen in childhood are sports-related. Hear why children and teens are more prone to sports injuries than adults and what they can do to prevent them. Meet Dr. Cassandra Lee and Dr. Brandee Waite, team doctors for Sacramento Republic FC, Sacramento's professional soccer team. The team's and the city of Sacramento's motto is "Urbs Indomita", Latin for "Indomitable City". Drs. Lee and Waite tell us about what it is like to be team doctors for a major sport and how athletes can keep themselves healthy and fit. Then visit Antarctica—the highest, driest, coldest, and windiest continent. There you will find a desert that holds most of the world's freshwater, fish with antifreeze, a subglacial blood red lake, and diamond dust that floats in the air.
Each year people in the United States buy 58 million pounds of chocolate. As you devour this "food of the gods", hear about its long transcontinental journey starting as a bitter and inedible bean called cacao thousands of miles away. Nine countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Ecuador, Cameroon, Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic—produce 93% of the world’s cacao. Plant scientists David Mackill and Don Livingstone tell us about their research in making cacao hardy enough to withstand climate change, drought, pests, and disease. Then visit Côte d'Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, a country on the southern coast of West Africa. It is one of only 12 countries in the world with more than one capital. There you will find bongos (a type of antelope), lush rainforests (where 40% of the world's cacao comes from), and Les Éléphants (Côte d'Ivoire's national soccer team).
How can you shoot a hoop to increase your chance of a successful free throw? How does the speed at which you kick a soccer ball affect its trajectory? How is sporting equipment designed to maximize performance? What do you look for when shopping for shoes or a baseball bat for your next game? Sports are a constant display of physics in action—whether it's helping athletes run faster, developing a training routine, preventing injuries, or designing athletic gear and clothing. Nathan Kwan, full time science teacher, part time runner, and occasional rapper, tells us about the physics of running and how you can use physics to improve sports performance. Then visit Atlanta, a city in a forest, that is home to Coca-Cola, the world’s busiest airport, and 71 streets named Peachtree (but no actual peach trees)!
Color commentators are sports broadcasters who provide expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy, anecdotes, and injury reports on teams and athletes. They work alongside play-by-play commentators to provide insight and analysis throughout the broadcast when the main commentator is not describing the action. They are called color commentators because they bring insight, stories, and levity to the broadcast and add color to the picture of the play. Doug Kelly, the color commentator for UC Davis football for more than two and a half decades, tells us about his journey to being the radio voice of Aggie football. We talk to Doug about his career and his advice for aspiring color commentators, as well as his analysis of the Aggies' wild 2021 season.
At 7 a.m. on December 5, 2021, 9000 athletes started their run on the scenic course of the 38th annual California International Marathon, from Folsom Dam to the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Hear how the marathon got its name and why it is 26.2 miles long. Explore marathons that start with a sip of wine, compete against horses, traverse the top of the world, run on water and at sub-zero temperatures, cross the Great Wall of China, and happened in outer space. Meet Davis native Brendan Gregg, winner of the 2021 California International Marathon, who tells us about his running career, training regimen, and advice for aspiring competitive runners. Then visit Athens, Greece—the birthplace of Western civilization and Europe’s oldest capital. Hear about agoraphobia, the first known democracy, modern Olympic Games, and an archaeological excavation that unearthed 50,000 ancient artifacts under a Metro line.
There are 13 million children and teens in the United States who don’t have enough to eat. The COVID-19 pandemic put a huge burden on already-struggling families, and childhood hunger is at its highest level ever. Poor nutrition changes how young brains develop and affects learning, growth, health, and behavior. This episode is about hunger and food insecurity. Maria Segoviano tells us about how Yolo Food Bank increases food and nutrition security by connecting people with healthy, high-quality food. Then we travel to Phoenix, Arizona, where you can find the world's first food bank, one of the greenest deserts in North America, 150-year-old saguaro cactus, temperatures of 100°F over 100 days a year, franchises in four major pro sports leagues, and no daylight saving time.
College football with its sea of fans, raucous crowds, college bands, and adrenaline rush is a staple of higher education in the United States. Hear about unique college football traditions, starting with Pint, the tee retrieval dog for the University of California Davis football team. Pint is a third generation Davis resident and is retiring after 10 seasons of retrieving the kickoff tee. His owner, UC Davis veterinary professor Danika Bannasch, tells us about Pint's storied career and his post-retirement plans. Then we travel to Boulder, Colorado, home to University of Colorado's live mascot, Ralphie the Buffalo. Find out about Boulder's 300 miles of bikeways, the flatirons, and Chinook Winds.
Esports are a billion dollar industry with millions of fans. Players compete in organized video gaming with teams, practices, seasons, and tournaments. A growing phenomenon, esports are an official high school sport in the U.S. and students can earn college scholarships to play for varsity teams. Esports will be part of the 2022 Asian Games and the International Olympic Committee is talking about including them in the Olympic Games. Justin McBurney (high school physical education teacher and esports coach) and Naish Carlisle (a student on the esports team at Da Vinci High School) tell us how and why they got into esports. Then we visit the birthplace of esports, South Korea. Beyond the global music phenomenon of K-pop, South Korea is the place to go for bibimbap, bingsu, and breakdancing.
Public Address announcers at sports events inform the audience, engage fans, cheer on the home team, and amp up the crowd. It's a fine balance since they have to do all these things while not being more memorable than the game itself. Meet Scott Moak, long-time Public Address announcer for the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Find out about the Sacramento native's journey as a kid cheering on his hometown team from Section 213 to his 20-year career as the King's PA announcer. Scott tells us about his time as a UC Davis student on the sports crew at the campus radio station, his work in child welfare helping youth in foster care, his advice to aspiring sports announcers, his experience as an NBA announcer, and what fans should expect from the Kings this season.
Activist—a simple word just three syllables long—has been the subject of debate and polarization lately. Find out how the word alternately took on positive and negative connotations over the past decades. Then learn five things that you can do to become an effective activist and get people to support a cause. Meet Gloria Partida, City of Davis' first Latina mayor, who is a community activist with a long history of disability advocacy. She started the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a group that works to eliminate intolerance and prevent hate-motivated violence, and whose motto is "Rising From The Ashes Of Hate". Then visit Egypt, a cradle of civilization where the phoenix, writing, ink, and paper originated. Did you know that the 365-day 12-month calendar we use today was invented in Egypt to predict the yearly floods of the Nile?
Mariachi is a genre of Mexican folk music that dates back to the 18th century. Find out about Mariachi's rich cultural heritage, unique instruments, distinctive style of singing, and eye-catching clothing that add depth and texture to the Mexican story. Then meet Mariachi Puente, a talented group of junior high and high school musicians in Davis. Hiram and Ximena Jackson and Arianna Ramirez tell us how the group was formed and how they continue to practice and perform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then visit Jalisco, a state in western Mexico whose motto is "Jalisco es México" (Jalisco is Mexico). Mariachi, the sombrero, tequila, birria, Mexican rodeo, ranchera music, and the Mexican hat dance all have their roots in Jalisco.
We are in the midst of a pandemic of misinformation. Most people have shared fake news online and didn't know that it was made up until after they shared it. People have trouble sorting through digital information, fall for viral hoaxes on social media, and have difficulty recognizing sponsored content. This problem of misinformation gets especially serious during a pandemic. Two-thirds of people who are not vaccinated believe myths about the COVID-19 vaccine. We talk to Alex Mahadevan, senior multimedia reporter for MediaWise about why we believe misinformation and how to spot misinformation and fake news online. Then we visit St. Petersburg, Florida, a city that earned its name through a coin toss and where commercial aviation got its start. St. Pete is nicknamed "The Sunshine City" and holds a Guinness World Record for logging 768 consecutive days of sunshine.